Decking device



June 3, 1930. A. coPONY 1 1,761,103

' DEGKING DEVICE Filed July 2, l928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 '2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES ING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN"; A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN DEC/KING DEVICE Application filed. July 2,

This invention relates to decking devices v double decking and has as one of its primary objects to simplify, render more efficient and m improve generally devices of this character. The several objects, advantages and novel details of'construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: i

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a freight car showing my improved decking device associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through aconventional form of freight 'car'showing several vehicles loaded therein. I

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on'the plane indicated by line 83 in Figure 2, and

Figure. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view throughone of the supporting elements. Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views it will be noted that there is fragmentarily illustrated a conventional form of freight car including a bottom or flooring 10, side posts 11, door posts 12, side plates 18, lower sheathing 14 and end sheathing 15., Extending longitudinally of the freight car arranged one at each side thereof, are

footing strips 16. These footing strips exfi tend between and are supported by the side posts 11 and door posts 12 as will be obvious. The under side of each footing strip 16 is provided with a plurality of recesses or notches 17. Cooperating with these footing strips are supporting beams or members 18 each provided with a'notch or recess 19 formed adjacent one end thereof and adapted to engage in any one of the cut-away portions 17 of the footing strip. In practice these supporting beams 18 will generalinventi'on relatesparticularlyto apparatus and means for halfdecking the vehicles as distinguished from- "porting' beams.

1923. serial No. 239,910.

:o'FF IcE ALFRED coroNY, or, MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN. ASSIGNOB. T0 ooroNY AUTO LOAD- ly be furnished by the manufacturer of the I vehicles being shipped and each ofthese beams is provided on'the end opposite to the notched end with a boxing strap loop 20 adapted for engagement with the hub of the 3 vehicle to be supported. Obviously these loops may be of any desired length so as to.

support the end of the vehicle at the proper height from the floor 10. 7

This present invention constitutes an improved modification of the vehlcle deck ng device shown and described in my copendlng application Serial No. 277,7 04. In that application special hangers are employed for bracing or supporting the beams but in the present construction I have substituted other means for supporting these vehicle-sup Inrthe present form of' construction I provide 'a flexible element such as a chain orthe like 21 extending longitudinally of the freight car and sup-l ported at longitudinally spaced points by means of links ;or "eyelets or the like 22." These supporting eyelets may be carried for instance by the posts -11. One end of the flexibleelement 21 is permanently secured to door post 12 as for instance by means of a hook or other permanent fastening-element 23. V The chain or flexible element 21 passes freely throughthe eyelets22 so that'it can be adjusted longitudinally and looped, for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter referred to, at the points between the posts 11. Carried by one of the posts at the end of the freight'caris means forengaging the free be in they end of the flexible element.

This means may conveniently form of a hook 2 l'provided with a safety catch." Arranged at spaced points adjacent the free ends of the flexible' element are additional links or loops 25 any one of which is engageable withthe hook 24 for lengthening the effective length of the-flexL.

drawings. It will be noted that the supporting beam 18 is provided with an abutment or' shoulder 26 and the flexible ele ment is engaged behind this abutment. The notched end of the supporting beam is then fitted into an adjacent notch 17 of the foot- .ing strip 16 and the boxing strap loop at the other end of the beam 18 is fitted over the hub of the front wheel of the vehicle being decked. In this manner the flexible element 21 acts to brace or support the beams 18 and when not in use may be conveniently disposed out of the way in the space behind the footing strip 16.

This flexible element 21 also forms an entirely satisfactory and convenient means for supporting the beams 18 as it may be readily adjusted and may be manipulated with facility.

Obvious modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in this art and to this end reservation is made to make such changes in many of the essential and all of the nonessential details of construction as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

hat I claim as my invention is:

I 1; In a decking device for freight cars, a footing strip extending longitudinally, of the car, a vehicle supporting beam engageable with said footing strip, and a flexible element extending longitudinally of the car and adapted for engagement with said beam for bracing the same to allow selected positioning of the vehicle.

2. The combination with a freight car, of a vehicle decking device including a longitudinally extending footing strip, a beam having one end engageable with said footing strip and a longitudinally extending flexible element adapted for engagement with said beam at a point spaced from said footing strip. for bracing said beam.

3. In a vehicle decking device for freight cars, a footing strip extending longitudinally ofth'e car, a vehicle supporting beam having one end engageable with said strip and a flexible element slidably engaging sup ports spaced longitudinally of the car and adjustable as to length whereby said flexible element may be looped under said beam adjacent its outer end thereof to support the same.

4E. The combination with a freight car of a vehicle' decking device including a supporting beam, beams extending longitudinally of the freight car for supporting one end of said beam and a flexible element slidably supported longitudinally of said freight'car at spaced points throughout its length and capable of being looped intermediate its supports for engagement with said supporting beam adjacent the free end of the latter, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a freight car,

of a vehicle decking device including a footing strip extending longitudinally of the car, a supporting beam having one end adapted for engagement with said footing strip, a flexible element having one end permanently secured to a portion of said car, supports spaced longitudinally of said car with which said flexible element slidably engages, and means for adjustably securing one end of said flexible element whereby said flexible element may be looped at points intermediate the supports therefor for engagement with said beam at a point spaced from said footing strip, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a decking device for freight cars, a vehicle supporting beam extending transversely of the car and having one end adjustably engaging a member carried by a side wall of the car, for movement longitudinally of the car, and a flexible element extending longitudinally of the car and adapted for engagement with said beam adjacent the outer end thereof for bracing the beam in any adjusted position of the latter.

7. In a decking device for freight cars, a longitudinally adjustable vehicle supportin beam extending transversely of the car an having one end detachably engaging a member carried by a side wall of the car, and an adjustable flexible element extending longitudinally of the car and adapted for engagement with said beam adjacent the outer end thereof for bracing the beam in any of the adjusted positions of the latter.

8. In a vehicle decking device for freight cars, a supporting beam adapted for adjustment longitudinally of the car, and a flexible element extending longitudinally of the car and movable to engage and brace said beam in its various positions of adjustment.

In testimony whereof I- afflx my signature.

ALFRED OOPONY. 

